How to Care & Maintain a Belladonna Lily

With no announcement or fanfare, belladonna lily (Amaryllis belladonna) pops out of the ground in late summer or fall and opens trumpet-shaped flowers on long, sturdy, naked stems, giving rise to this plant's common names -- naked lady, magic lily and resurrection lily. Basal foliage appears after flowers in autumn or in early spring. Foliage dies down in late spring. Belladonna lily grows in loam or sandy soil in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 to 10 in acidic or slightly alkaline soil.

1

Amend heavy clay soil or sandy soil with organic matter such as leaf mold, sphagnum peat moss or compost, working in amendments until the top 12 inches of soil is loose and friable -- crumbles in the hand without sticking together.

2

Test the soil's pH level using a kit purchased from a home or garden supply store or have the soil tested commercially. When home testing, follow kit instructions carefully.

3

Adjust soil pH level, if needed, using dolomitic limestone to raise the pH or sulfur to lower the pH, according to test results. Belladonna lily grows best when soil is in a pH range between 6.0 and 6.8.

4

Plant belladonna lily in spring in a full-sun or part-shade location just deep enough to cover the bulb to its tip, spacing bulbs three to a square foot. Belladonna lilies are clump forming, and will eventually form a solid mass. In the colder regions of its hardiness range, plant belladonna lily slightly deeper.

5

6

Water only in severe drought conditions, as belladonna lily can tolerant some drought, preferring a well-drained condition.

7

Fertilize in spring with 2 1/2 cups per 100 square feet of high phosphorous fertilizer, such as 5-10-10, or bonemeal -- according to manufacturer's instructions.

8

Remove flower heads when blossoms fade to prevent seed formation. Allow flower stalks to die down naturally, as they feed the bulb through photosynthesis.

9

Lift clumps of belladonna lily in the fall, after flowering, to make divisions, using a garden fork. Separate new bulbs and bulblets from the clump and cut off yellow or dead foliage. Make divisions every few years when clumps become crowded.

10

Replenish soil by working in organic matter and replant bulbs immediately.

Things You Will Need

Garden spade

Organic amendments

Organic mulch

Hand clippers

5-10-10 fertilizer, optional

Tip

Clumps of belladonna lily can survive for decades.

Plant in a raised bed if a well-drained location is not available.

An annual application of leaf mold, made from composted fallen leaves, feeds belladonna lily and maintains the soil.

Warning

When in doubt, use less fertilizer, rather than more. Over-fertilization leads to excess growth and reduced flowering.

About the Author

For Judy Kilpatrick, gardening is the best mental health therapy of all. Combining her interests in both of these fields, Kilpatrick is a professional flower grower and a practicing, licensed mental health therapist. A graduate of East Carolina University, Kilpatrick writes for national and regional publications.